The Changing Face of the Church
As numbers continue their downward slide, and congregations begin to feel the shrinking pains, many are being forced to seek out new alternatives to the traditional church model.
Be Church
Siloé Grows in Montreal
La Communauté Chrétienne Siloé was born in Montreal’s Chinese Presbyterian Church just six years ago with five families attending its first service. Today, Siloé is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Canada with 234 members.
Big Ministry, Small Budget
When the engine of our second car almost literally blew up after midnight in the middle of a November snowstorm, I didn’t immediately recognize it as the most significant thing God had done to kick-start our ministry at Côte des Neiges, Montreal.
Sharing Struggles and Joys
It was a unique gathering this January. Members of the Presbytery of Oak Ridges and the northern portion of Classis Toronto of the Christian Reformed Church in North America gathered for fellowship, a meal and common worship—just because.
Coming Together to Pray
The Bible tells us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and the international church community seeks to honour that call each year by joining hearts and minds.
Connecting the Unconnected
As people age, they often become unable to physically attend the worship services they have so loved. These same people still have much to offer to their congregational family.
It’s About Hospitality
Our church has been exceptional in its efforts to make things safe for my daughter. But it turns out, if a congregation hasn’t had any kids with severe allergies in their church, they might have no allergy policy at all.
Killed in Kabul
My brother – in – Law, John, loved Afghanistan. He loved the people. He loved the pace. He loved the culture. He loved it so […]
Extraordinary Things
Once upon a time there was a country church that was called by God to do remarkable things. People on the outside did not realize it was remarkable; people on the inside did not know any different.
Divine Community
A few months ago we rented our hall to the Friends of Priestman Street School for a community breakfast. Just days before the breakfast, a nine-year-old student, Garrett, died from a sudden cardiac event while walking to school. Garrett’s family and all who knew him were shaken to the core.
A Story of Change
Change has been in the walls and in the ground and in the pews and in the programs and in the financial outlook. So here’s just a sampling of changes made in our congregation’s life over these past years.
Faith Sharing
Pinawa Christian Fellowship is a unique congregation. Located in Pinawa, Man., the congregation was formed with the blessing of six mainline denominations: Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Mennonite, Presbyterian and United.
A Good Social Network
Rev. Dr. Chinchai Wang, noticed that Taiwanese seniors were isolated. They complained that Canada was a beautiful country but they were blind, mute, deaf and crippled. Their eyes did not understand English, their mouths could not speak English and they could not drive or get directions.
You’re Invited!
While other churches long for days when pews were full of young families, Rev. Lynne Donovan said St. Andrew’s, Picton, Ont., has learned to embrace its age.
Fun and Family
Have you ever seen people line dancing while using a cane? Come to the senior centre at St. Andrew’s, Orillia, Ont., and that’s the kid of fun thing you’ll find.
Non-Denomination
The word “do” and church is just one of the many problems in the church of today. Performance, traditions, rituals, the law and presumption have […]
Broken Yet Beloved
What if we shifted our approach to becoming smaller and more focused in our mission and ministry? What if we shifted our vision of church to a fellowship of communities less dependent on money?
One Simple Rule
As Christians, as followers of Jesus Christ, there is one simple, golden, ironclad rule that will bring life and vitality for us as individuals and our churches as families of faith.
A Different Kind of Strength
If we follow the statistics for the past several decades it would seem the Presbyterian Church in Canada is dying. But, perhaps there is something to be gained through our journey toward death. This is what I’d like to explore.
Trusting and Trying
Can we make any generalizations to explain why things are going in the right direction? Does some of the good have to do with introducing a strategic plan, or some praise songs, or different programs, or something else?